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COLLEGE PREVIEW 2013 NCAA DIVISION I MEN TOP 20 JOHNS HOPKINS


2012 RECORD: 12-4 (INDEPENDENT) COACH: DAVE PIETRAMALA (13TH YEAR)


BLUE JAYS 5


Despite the scent of fresh paint and new carpet wears off, walking into the lobby of Johns Hopkins’ swanky new $10 million Cordish Lacrosse Center, an overwhelming sense of history pervades the air. A two- story structure houses the Blue Jays’


trophies, under which a glass encasement contains their eight national championship rings. Venture upstairs, each step with a championship season engraved into its face, to coach Dave Pietramala’s offi ce overlooking Homewood Field, where Pietramala pauses after seeing a pair of players out for a morning shooting session. “There’s something different about this group. Maybe this building has something to do with that,” Pietramala said. “It’s a constant reminder of what the standard is. You can tell a guy, ‘Hey, this is a great place to play with rich tradition.’ Now, every day they walk in, they don’t even need to hear it — they can see it, they can touch it, they can feel it.”


Feb 8 Siena Feb 16 at Towson Feb 23 Michigan Mar 1 Princeton Mar 5 Mount St. Mary’s Mar 8 UMBC Mar 16 at Syracuse Mar 23 vs. Virginia* Mar 30 at North Carolina Apr 5 Albany Apr 13 at Maryland Apr 20 Navy Apr 27 Loyola May 3 at Army


*at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore


But there’s still the lingering taste of the last four seasons ending early NCAA tournament exits. Pietramala streamlined fall and spring practices by one week each, in hopes that Johns Hopkins will peak at the end of May. “We need to extend the season by a week and two days,” he said, “when we’ll be physically and mentally in a better place.” Back to the lobby, where


on the staircase’s sidewall facing the facility’s entrance reads a simple yet signifi cant message. Hopkins Lacrosse: We must fi nd a way or make one. The path for 2013 could catch some by surprise. The Blue Jays want to “push the ball a lot, and hopefully make some plays people didn’t think we could make in the past,” junior midfi elder Rob Guida said. Johns Hopkins last routinely showed off its athleticism between the stripes in 2008 — also its last fi nal four appearance. “In some ways, the new rules have almost forced us to be more who we are,” Pietramala said. “We’re going to try to take advantage of our personnel within the new rules.” If the Blue Jays turn their Cyborgs loose, there’s none better than Phil Castranova, who missed last season with a torn ACL after becoming one of the nation’s elite short sticks as a freshman in 2011. Pietramala hopes a year spent on the sidelines will help Castranova better understand schemes to take liberties within them. “He’s got the go,” Guida said. There’s a palpable sense of urgency for Johns Hopkins. All-American defenseman Tucker Durkin leads a large contingent of fourth-year starters. “Defeat is not an option,” he said.


— M.F. 34 LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2013 >>


Wells Stanwick


 RIVAL COACHES SAY “While Palmer, Stanwick and Benn may not need to shave more than once a week, last year provided them with a lot to grow on… We’re putting the pole on Guida… They bog down with midfi eld shooting, which is like 3-point shooting. If you live by that sword, be prepared to die by that sword.”


 TOP RETURNER D Tucker Durkin (Sr.) The reigning USILA Defenseman of the Year dominates 1-on-1 matchups, but Pietramala has been impressed with his leadership. “Now he’s a much more vocal and verbal guy on the fi eld,” he said. “Talking to Tucker is probably a lot like talking to me. That’s what we need out on the fi eld.”


 X-FACTOR A Wells Stanwick (So.) Stanwick started four games as a freshman in 2012. Now he will step into the third attack spot vacated by Chris Boland, running point alongside Canadian attackmen Zach Palmer and Brandon Benn. Stanwick initiating from behind and two-man games could help free space for Hopkins’


John


Ranagan in study hall at 8 p.m. on a Friday? Johns


Hopkins’ senior midfi elder means business in 2013.


 PROJECTED STARTERS


A Zach Palmer (Sr.)* G: 27 A: 26


A Brandon Benn (Jr.)* G: 30 A: 7


A Wells Stanwick (So.) G: 9


A: 14


M Rob Guida (Jr.)* G: 17 A: 11


M John Ranagan (Sr.)* G: 16 A: 7


M John Greeley (Sr.)* G: 7


A: 7


FO Mike Poppleton (Sr.)* FO%: 61.6 Pts: 1


LSM: Mike Pellegrino (So.) GB: 33 CT: 10


D Tucker Durkin (Sr.)* GB: 35 CT: 19


D Chris Lightner (Sr.)* GB: 18 CT: 6


D Jack Reilly (Jr.)* GB: 21 CT: 6


G Pierce Bassett (Sr.)* GAA: 7.47 SV%: 52.2


*returning starters  TELLING NUMBER 7.38


just 60th nationally in saves. Pierce Bassett stops the shots he sees, but doesn’t see many. A Publication of US Lacrosse


Goals allowed per game in 2012 — despite ranking


©JIM O’CONNOR (WS) ©JOHNS HOPKINS (RG); ©JOHN STROHSACKER (JR)


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